AVES—PARTRIDGE. 605 
states, though numerous in highnorthern latitudes. It inhabits the unculti- 
vated lands near the southern parts of Hudson’s Bay. It issometimes found 
near Lake Superior in the spring. , 
The sharp-tailed grouse is very shy and solitary in summer, but lives in 
flocks during winter. Their favorite places of resort are the juniper plains, 
where the buds of juniper bushes constitute their favorite food. They fre- 
quent the woods as well as the plains; sometimes feeding >a oerries, and 
sometimes on the tops of evergreen, poplar, and birch trees. They breed on 
the ground, near low bushes; the nest is composed of grass and lined with 
feathers. Their flesh is excellent eating. One of these birds will some- 
times weigh upwards of two pounds. The general color of the plumage is 
a mixture of white and rusty on a glossy blackish ground; the feathers of 
the head and neck are tipped with white. 
The other American birds of this family are, the spotted grouse, and the 
sock of the plains. 
THE PART hi DG kh! 

Tus bird is about thirteen inches in length. The general color of its 
plumage is brown and ash, elegantly mixed with black; each feather is 
streaked down the middle with buff color; the sides of the head are tawny; 
the eyes are hazel, and under each eye there is a small saflron-colored spot, 

1 Perdix cinerea, LatH. The genus perdiz, has the bill short, compressed, stout, base 
naked ; upper mandible arched, convex, strongly curved towards the tip; nostrils basal, 
lateral, half closed by an arched and naked membrane; the three anterior toes united by 
membranes to the first joint; tail composed of eighteen, or of fourteen feathers, short, 
rounded and slanting downwards; wings short. 
51* 
